The oil content and fatty acid composition of Ganoderma lucidum collected from different producing areas, varieties, tissue types and growth periods were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the oil content was 23. 61%-34.17% in different domestic producing areas of China; the oil content of fruiting bodies from major varieties cultured in Zhejiang province were 0.81%-1.87%, wall-unbroken spores were 0.07%-0.24%, wall-broken spores were 27.54%-34.17%, so the oil content of wall-unbroken spores were much higher than fruiting bodies, and wall-breaking treatment would increase the oil extraction rate 150-340 times. G. lucidum spores oil was mainly composed of unsaturated fatty acid composition. oleic acid and linoleic content were 53.26%-58.16% and 10.69%-16.87% respectively. Fatty acid composition ratio of spores and fruiting bodies were significantly different by PLS-DA. Determining the composition of fatty acid, especially the content of oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid, could identify the tissue types of G. lucidum products' sources. In addition, the study result showed that the spores and fruiting bodies collected in the first year contained richer oil and fatty acid than second year's samples from the same variety of G. lucidum.
Fatty Acids ; analysis ; Oils ; analysis ; Reishi ; chemistry

OBJECTThe authors studied the influence of CO(2) pneumoperitoneum on intracellular pH and signal transduction arising from cancer cell multiplication in laparoscopic tumor operation.

METHODThey set up a simulation of pneumoperitoneum under different CO(2) pressure, and then measured the variation of intracellular pH (pHi) at different time and the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) at the end of the pneumoperitoneum. After 1 week, the concentration of cancer cells in the culture medium was calculated.

RESULTWhen the pressure of CO(2) pneumoperitoneum was 0, 10, 20, 30 mmHg respectively, the average pHi was 7.273, 7.075, 6.783, 6.693 at the end of the pneumoperitoneum; PKC activity was 159.4, 168.5, 178.0, 181.6 nmol/(g.min) and PP2a was 4158.3, 4066.9, 3984.0, 3878.5 nmol/(g.min) respectively. After 1 week, the cancer cells concentration was 2.15 x 10(5), 2.03 x 10(5), 2.20 x 10(5), 2.18 x 10(5) L(-1).

CONCLUSIONCO(2) pneumoperitoneum could promote acidosis in cancer cells, inducing the activation of protein kinase C and deactivation of protein phosphatase 2a, but it could not accelerate the mitosis rate of the cancer cells.

Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; administration & dosage ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intracellular Fluid ; chemistry ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial ; methods ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Protein Phosphatase 2 ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Superficial needle is a new type of needling tools. Superficial needling therapy is adopted mainly monouse superficial needle as treatment tools, with local disease as basic marker and needling the surroundings of the disease, with the needle tip towards the focus, and the needle body inserted along the superficial fascial layer, making a sweeping motion and then it was retained. The superficial needling therapy has wide indications, particularly, rapid and lasting analgesic effect for injury and pain of soft tissue.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Needles ; Pain

Object: The authors studied the influence of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on intracellular pH and signal transduction arising from cancer cell multiplication in laparoscopic tumor operation. Method: They set up a simulation of pneumoperitoneum under different CO2 pressure, and then measured the variation of intracellular pH (pHi) at different time and the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) at the end of the pneumoperitoneum. After 1 week, the concentration of cancer cells in the culture medium was calculated. Result: When the pressure of CO2 pneumoperitoneum was 0, 10, 20, 30 mmHg respectively, the average pHi was 7.273, 7.075, 6.783, 6.693 at the end of the pneumoperitoneum; PKC activity was 159.4, 168.5,178.0, 181.6 nmol/(g.min) and PP2a was 4158.3, 4066.9, 3984.0, 3878.5 nmol/(g.min) respectively. After 1 week, the cancer cells concentration was 2.15×105, 2.03×105, 2.20×105, 2.18×105 L-1. Conclusion: CO2 pneumoperitoneum could promote acidosis in cancer cells, inducing the activation of protein kinase C and deactivation of protein phosphatase 2a, but it could not accelerate the mitosis rate of the cancer cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and possible mechanism of complete Freund's adjuvant induced chronic pain on later function of learning and memory in neonatal rats.

METHODSSixty Sprague-Dewley rat pups (10 litters of 6 pups) were randomly divided into control group and chronic pain group (n = 30 in each group). In the chronic pain group, left hind paws of the rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of 20 microl of CFA on postnatal day-2. The control rat pups received normal saline. The hippocampus of rats were separated on postnatal days 10 and 21 (one rat in each group from every litter, n = 10). The expression of Bcl-2 and BDNF mRNA were investigated by RT-PCR. Morris water maze tests were performed on day 21 (one rat in each group from every litter, n = 10).

RESULTSIn hidden-platform training of Morris water maze, the mean escape latency of rats in the chronic pain group were longer than that of the control rats. In spatial probe tests, the average percentages of the swimming time and distances in the platform quadrant in the pain group rats were less than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in visible-platform training between the two groups. The Bcl-2 and BDNF mRNA expressions in hippocampus of the pain group rats were lower than those in the control at day 10, but no significant difference at day 21.

CONCLUSIONChronic pain stress induced by CFA impairs the spatial learning and memory function in neonatal rats. These effects might exert through down-regulating Bcl-2 and BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Genes, bcl-2 ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pain ; chemically induced ; genetics ; physiopathology ; psychology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spatial Behavior ; Stress, Physiological ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of paeoniflorin (PAE) on TNF-α-induced TNF receptor type I (TNFR1)-mediated signaling pathway in mouse renal arterial endothelial cells (AECs) and to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODSMouse AECs were cultured in vitro and then they were treated by different concentrations PAE or TNF-α for various time periods. Expression levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the low dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 0.8 μmo/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the middle dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 8 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 6-h TNF-α 30 ng/mL) with Western blot analysis. Nuclear translocation of transcription factor NF-κB (NE-κB) was detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 45-mm TNF-α 30 ng/mL), and the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 45-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL) by immunofluorescent staining. Expression levels of the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated (protein) kinase (ph-ERK) and p38 (ph- p38) were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media) and the high dose PAE group (2-h PAE 80 μmol/L culture) by Western blot. NF-κB inhibitor-α (IκBα) protein expressions were detected in the normal group (cultured by serum-free culture media), the TNF-α group (cultured by 2-h serum-free culture media plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the high dose PAE group (cultured by 2-h PAE 80 μmol/L plus 30-min TNF-α 30 ng/mL), the p38 inhibitor group (SB group, pretreatment with SB238025 25 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min), the ERK inhibitor group (PD group, treated by PD98059 50 μmol/L for 30 min, then treated by PAE 80 μmol/L for 2 h, and finally treated by TNF-α 30 ng/mL for 30 min) by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels obviously increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, ICAM-1 protein expression levels were obviously inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Protein expression levels of ph-p38 and ph-ERK were obviously higher in the hIgh dose PAE group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, IκBα protein expression levels obviously decreased in the TNF-α group (P < 0.01). Compared with the TNFα group, TNF-α-induced IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group (P < 0.01); the inhibition of PAE on IκBα degradation could be significantly inhibited in the SB group (P < 0.05). NF-κB/p65 signal was mainly located in cytoplasm in the normal group. NF-κB/p65 was translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus after stimulated by 45 min TNF-α in the TNF-α group, while it could be significantly inhibited in the high dose PAE group.

CONCLUSIONSPAE inhibited TNF-α-induced expression of lCAM-1. Its action might be associated with inhibiting TNFR1/NF-κB signaling pathway. p38 participated and mediated these actions.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) may predict the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in adult, but few reports on relevant studies in children are available. The present study aimed to understand possible correlation between serum hs-CRP levels and some factors of obese children and adolescents with or without impaired glycometabolism.

METHODSSeventy obese children and adolescents (age 8 - 17 years) and 30 non-obese healthy controls (group 1, 20 boys and 10 girls, mean age 12.6 years) were enrolled into this study. The obese individuals were subdivided into two groups according to the results of oral glucose tolerance test: the obese subjects without IGR (group 2, 54 cases, 43 boys and 11 girls, mean age 11.3 years) and the obese subjects with impaired glycometabolism (group 3, 16 cases, 8 boys and 8 girls, mean age 12.8 years). The levels of serum parameters including hs-CRP, glucose, lipid, insulin, C-peptide and whole blood HbA1c were determined. SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS(1) There was significant increase of serum hs-CRP level in obese children and adolescents, the median was 2.44 (0.01 - 14.6) mg/L; the level of control group was 0.1 (0.01 - 2.1) mg/L. (2) Some of the following parameters, such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), fasting insulin (FINS), C-peptide (Cp) and insulin resistance index (IRI), were found increased in group 2 and 3 as compared to group 1. When FPG and TG were still in normal range in group 2, the levels of hs-CRP and IRI were significantly higher than those in group 1, the level of hs-CRP was 2.4 (0.01 - 9.0) mg/L. While FPG and TG were abnormal in group 3, the level of hs-CRP was 2.6 (0.1 - 14.6) mg/L, but the difference had no statistical significance. (3) Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a moderate correlation between serum hs-CRP and BMI (r = 0.414, P = 0.000). There was a low correlation between hs-CRP and waist circumference, hip circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR). The correlation of serum hs-CRP with blood pressure, TG, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), HbA1c, FPG, FINS and Cp had no significant deviation. (4) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) was the only indicator which had correlation with hs-CRP.

CONCLUSION(1) There may be a chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance in obese children. (2) The level of hs-CRP might be independently correlated with BMI in children. (3) Hs-CRP and IRI elevated before FPG and TG did, which may suggest that the low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance may be a pathogenic base of DM rather than the outcome of it. (4) The elevation of hs-CRP may help predict impaired glucose and lipid metabolism.

Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy for far lateral lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom February 2005 to February 2010, 73 patients with far lateral lumbar disc herniation were treated with intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 males and 32 females, aged from 19 to 80 years old with an average of 56.5 years; courses of disease ranged from 1 to 25 months with an average of 4.5 months. The main symptom was low back pain and sciatica, especially the sciatica was seriously. Herniation level was in L3,4 of 9 cases, L4,5 of 49 cases, L5S1 of 15 cases. Preoperative, 2 weeks after operation, final follow-up, conditions of pain relief were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS); total life quality of patients were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before operation and last follow-up.

RESULTSAll operations were performed successfully, operative time was from 40 to 115 min (mean of 50 min); and blood loss was from 50 to 150 ml (mean of 110 ml). Incision infection had 1 case and incomplete nerve root injury had 1 case. All patients were followed up from 3 to 8 years with an average of 4.5 years. Postoperative VAS and ODI had obviously improved (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe technique of intertransverse approach microendoscopic discectomy is a feasible and effective method for far lateral lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDNon-valvular atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke; however, the appropriate intensity of anticoagulation therapy for Chinese patients has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and the efficacy of standard-intensity warfarin therapy, low-intensity warfarin therapy, and aspirin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in Chinese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSA total of 786 patients from 75 Chinese hospitals were enrolled in this study and randomized into three therapy groups: standard-intensity warfarin (international normalized ratio (INR) 2.1 to 2.5) group, low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.6 to 2.0) group and aspirin (200 mg per day) group. All patients were evaluated by physicians at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after randomization to obtain a patient questionnaire, physical examination and related laboratory tests.

RESULTSThe annual event rates of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or systemic thromboembolism were 2.6%, 3.1% and 6.9% in the standard-intensity warfarin, low-intensity warfarin and aspirin groups, respectively (P = 0.027). Thromboembolic event rates in both warfarin groups were significantly lower than that in the aspirin group (P = 0.018, P = 0.044), and there was no significant difference between the two warfarin groups. Severe hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 7 (2.6%) in the standard-intensity warfarin group, 7 (2.4%) in the low-intensity warfarin group and 1 (0.4%) in the aspirin group. The severe hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups were higher than that in the aspirin group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.101). The mild hemorrhagic and total hemorrhagic event rates in the warfarin groups (whether in the standard-intensity warfarin group or low-intensity warfarin group) were much higher than that in the aspirin group with the annual event rates of total hemorrhages of 10.2%, 7.6% and 2.2%, respectively, in the 3 groups (P = 0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in all cause mortality among the three study groups.

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese patients with NVAF, the warfarin therapy (INR 1.6 - 2.5) for the prevention of thromboembolic events was superior to aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Warfarin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the immunosuppressive effect ofcurcumin on xenogenic skin transplantation in mice.Methods The skin transplantation model was established by an operation,tergal skin flaps from BALB/c donor mice transplanted to the back of C57BL/6 recipient mice.Then recipient mice were divided into five groups at random,namely sham,model,curcumin (50 mg/kg),Cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg) and curcumin + Cyclosporin A (50 mg/kg + 5 mg/kg).All mice were ip administered once daily for 10 d.The survival days of skin graft were recorded in all groups.The interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in plasma of all mice were determined by ELISA 4 and 8 d after the operation,respectively.Results The mean survival time of skin graft in curcumin,Cyclosporin A and curcumin + Cyclosporin A groups were 14.77,16.81 and 19.96 d,respectively,which showed significant.differences comparing with 12.10 d of model group (P ＜ 0.01).Combination of curcumin and Cyclosporin A administration showed a longer mean survival days than curcumin or Cyclosporin A group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The IL-2 levels in plasma of mice in curcumin,Cyclosporin A and curcumin + Cyclosporin A groups on postoperative day 4 were 3.68,2.05 and 2.70 ng/mL,respectively,which were significantly reduced than 4.76 ng/mL of model group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The IL-2 levels in plasma of mice in curcumin,Cyclosporin A and combination of curcumin and Cyclosporin A groups on postoperative day 8 were 4.06,2.11 and 2.95 ng/mL,respectively,which were significantly reduced than 5.85 ng/mL of model group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Curcumin may have a good immunosuppressive effect on mice with xenogenic skin transplantation.